Document holder with a retaining pocket to prevent falling of documents from the document holder

ABSTRACT

A document holder includes rectangular first and second sheets having first and second sides connected together to define a document-receiving space between the first and second sheets. A pocket is formed on a corner of the first sheet within the document-receiving space, and defines a pocket space that is in spatial communication with the document-receiving space and that is adapted to receive a corner of a document which is received in the document-receiving space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a document holder, more particularly to a document holder with a retaining pocket to prevent falling of documents from the document holder.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional document holder 1 is shown to include a rectangular first sheet 11 and a rectangular second sheet 12.

[0004] As illustrated, the first sheet 11 has a first side 111, a second side 112, a third side 113, and a fourth side 114.

[0005] The second sheet 12 has a first side 121, a second side 122, a third side 123, and a fourth side 124, which respectively confront the first, second, third and fourth sides 111, 112, 113, 114 of the first sheet 11. The first and second sides 121, 122 of the second sheet 12 are connected respectively to the first and second sides 111, 112 of the first sheet 11 so as to define a document-receiving space 13 between the first and second sheets 11, 12 and an access opening 14 for access into the document-receiving space 13 such that a document 2 can be disposed in the document-receiving space 13 through the access opening 14. The third side 123 of the second sheet 12 is generally formed with an indentation 125 to facilitate fetching of the document 2 from the document-receiving space 13. A foldable retention flap 15 is formed on the third side 113 of the first sheet 11, and is adapted to be folded into the document-receiving space 13 so as to prevent falling of the document 2 from the document-receiving space 13.

[0006] One disadvantage of the conventional document holder resides in that since the foldable retention flap 15 cannot firmly retain the document 2 in the document-receiving space 13, falling of the document 2 is still possible. In addition, the foldable flap 15 is formed by cutting away two elongated strips 16 from one of the third sides of the first and second sheets 11, 12, as best shown in FIG. 2, which results in material waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a document holder with a retaining pocket which is adapted to receive a corner of a document received in the document holder so as to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] A document holder according to the present invention includes: a first sheet having a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a corner defined by the third and fourth sides; and a second sheet having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, which respectively confront the first, second, third and fourth sides of the first sheet. The first and second sides of the second sheet are connected respectively to the first and second sides of the first sheet so as to define a document-receiving space between the first and second sheets and an access opening for access into the document-receiving space. The document holder further includes a retaining pocket formed on the corner of the first sheet within the document-receiving space and defining a pocket space that is in spatial communication with the document-receiving space and that is adapted to receive a corner of a document which is received the document-receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional document holder for holding a document therein;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a planar view of an elongated sheet, illustrating how a foldable retaining flap is formed prior to folding the elongated sheet to form the conventional document holder;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the document holder according to the present invention, which is kept in a binder;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the document holder according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals are used to denote similar elements throughout the specification.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, the first preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention is shown to include a rectangular first sheet 3, a rectangular second sheet 4, and a retaining pocket 7.

[0018] As illustrated, the first sheet 3 has a first side 31, a second side 32, a third side 33, a fourth side 34, and a corner 36 defined by the third and fourth sides 33, 34.

[0019] The second sheet 4 has a first side 41, a second side 42, a third side 43, and a fourth side 44, which respectively confront the first, second, third and fourth sides 31, 32, 33, 34 of the first sheet 3. The first and second sides 41, 42 of the second sheet 4 are connected respectively to the first and second sides 31, 32 of the first sheet 3 so as to define a document-receiving space 5 between the first and second sheets 3, 4, and an access opening 51 for access into the document-receiving space 5.

[0020] The retaining pocket 7 is formed on the corner 36 of the first sheet 3 within the document-receiving space 5, and defines a pocket space 71 that is in spatial communication with the document-receiving space 5 and that is adapted to receive a corner of a document 6 which is received in the document-receiving space 5. Preferably, the third side 43 of the second sheet 4 is formed with a n indentation 431 to facilitate fetching of the document 6 from the document-receiving space 5.

[0021] The first preferred embodiment is formed by folding an elongated, thin plastic sheet along a longitudinal axis into two symmetrical halves which respectively constitute the first and second sheets 3, 4 that have the first sides 31, 41 connected to each other along the longitudinal axis, and the second sides 32, 42 heat sealed together to form a stiffened ridge (see FIG. 5), thereby defining the document-receiving space 5. The retaining pocket 7 preferably is triangular in shape, and includes a pocket sheet 72 that confronts an inner surface of the first sheet 3 at the corner 36, and that confines the pocket space 71. The retaining pocket 7 has a first side 721 that overlaps the fourth side 34 of the first sheet 3 and that is connected to an outer surface of the first sheet 3 by heat-sealing to form a first stiffened seam 74, a second side 722 that overlaps the third side 33 of the first sheet 3 and that is connected to the outer surface of the first sheet 3 by heat-sealing so as to form a second stiffened seam 74, and a third side 723 that interconnects the first and second sides 721, 722 of the pocket sheet 72.

[0022]FIG. 4 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention, which has a construction similar to the first preferred embodiment. The only difference resides in that the first sides 31, 41 of the first and second sheets 3, 4 are heat-sealed together so as to form an elongated hard strip 8. Two through-holes 81 are formed through the hard strip 8 of the first and second sheets 3, 4 such that the second preferred embodiment can be kept in a file-binder 10.

[0023]FIG. 5 shows the third preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention, which has a construction similar to the first preferred embodiment. The only difference resides in that the pocket 7 further includes a flap 73 that is connected to the third side 723 of the pocket sheet 72, and that is foldable in such a manner as to be received within the pocket space 71. A triangular index label 10 can be inserted into the pocket space 71, and is held between the flap 73 and the pocket sheet 72. The index label 10 can be used to indicate the type of the document 6.

[0024]FIG. 6 shows the fourth preferred embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention, which has a construction similar to the first preferred embodiment. The only difference resides in that a plurality of partition sheets 9 are sandwiched between the first and second sheets 3, 4. Each of the partition sheets 9 has first and second sides respectively connected to the first and second sides (31, 41) (32, 42) of the first and second sheets 3, 4 so as to divide the document-receiving space 5 into a plurality of compartments 52. Each of the partition sheets 9 further has a third side and an index-holding tab 93 formed on the third side thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom. An index label (not shown) corresponding to the type of the documents kept in the compartments 52 can be stuck on the index-holding tab 93 to help identify the documents.

[0025] Due to provision of the pocket 7 on the corner of the first sheet 3, the aforesaid disadvantage of the prior art can be eliminated.

[0026] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A document holder comprising: a first sheet having a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a corner defined by said third and fourth sides; a second sheet having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, which respectively confront said first, second, third and fourth sides of said first sheet, said first and second sides of said second sheet being connected respectively to said first and second sides of said first sheet so as to define a document-receiving space between said first and second sheets, and an access opening for access into said document-receiving space; and a retaining pocket formed on said corner of said first sheet within said document-receiving space and defining a pocket space that is in spatial communication with said document-receiving space and that is adapted to receive a corner of a document which is received in said document-receiving space.
 2. The document holder as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of partition sheets sandwiched between said first and second sheets, each of said partition sheets having first and second sides respectively connected to said first and second sides of said first and second sheets so as to divide said document-receiving space into a plurality of compartments, each of said partition sheets further having a third side and an index-holding tab formed on said third side thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom.
 3. The document holder as defined in claim 2, wherein said pocket is triangular in shape, and includes a pocket sheet that confronts said first sheet at said corner, that confines said pocket space, and that has a first side connected to said fourth side of said first sheet, a second side connected to said third side of said first sheet, and a third side interconnecting said first and second sides of said pocket sheet, said pocket further comprising a flap that is connected to said third side of said pocket sheet, and that is foldable in such a manner as to be received within said pocket space.
 4. The document holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said third side of said second sheet is formed with an indentation adapted to facilitate fetching of the document from said document-receiving space. 